What battery technology do the vast majority of ebikes use these days? Lithium-ion cells, that’s right. Not so with this new model. This crossover between an ebike, moped and motorbike is the first to feature a battery based on semi-solid-state cells. According to Ride1Up, this makes it the very first production ebike of its kind in the world. We are not aware of any model that would contradict this claim.
1. Ride1Up Revv1 Evo: Retro look meets high-tech
2. Capacity of over 1,000 Wh and ready for series production
3. Lifespan more than twice as long?
4. Semi-solid-state ebike battery fully charged in two hours
5. Significantly more temperature-resistant than conventional lithium-ion batteries
6. New Ride1Up Revv1 Evo: unmistakably a fun machine
7. Ride with a throttle or as a pure pedelec
8. Background: What is a semi-solid-state battery?
1. Ride1Up Revv1 Evo: Retro look meets high-tech
Ride1Up – the brand is likely to be less well known in Europe. You may have heard of it if you love long seat benches, really wide tyres, headlights as big as a dinner plate and towering curved handlebars. Stylistically, the revamped Revv1 Evo brings to mind the Urban Drivestyle Uni Viper or the Brekr F250. In the US, however, the manufacturer has long since established itself. This is partly because its range has since become much broader, spanning from compact ebikes, through city ebikes and hardtails, to e-gravel bikes.
As mentioned, however, the standout feature of this newcomer is its battery. For some time now, attempts have been made to transfer solid-state and semi-solid-state battery technology to ebike batteries. Initial successes have been achieved with the latter over the past two years. For example, Kalle Nicolai, founder and CEO of Nicolai Bicycles, announced in October 2025 in an interview with E-Mountainbike magazine that editorial teams would likely be able to test the first ebikes fitted with a semi-solid-state battery from Universal Transmissions in autumn 2026. Universal Transmissions, also led by Kalle Nicolai, is working on drive systems such as the Helius Drive, which is said to be suitable for virtually any type of light electric vehicle.
2. Capacity of over 1,000 Wh and ready for series production
Ride1Up has now managed to realise such a project much earlier. And not in a prototype or a limited run of five vehicles, but in an ebike of which several thousand units are to be manufactured and sold. According to the US magazine Elektrek, the first deliveries are expected in August.
Based on the initial information about the Revv1 Evo, it is already possible to glimpse just how significantly a switch to semi-solid-state cells could alter our expectations of an ebike battery. With a capacity of 1,040 watt-hours, the energy storage unit appears to be enormous. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not specify its exact weight. However, it is likely to be significantly lighter than a conventional lithium-ion-based ebike battery. The Ride1Up Revv1FS, which is equipped almost identically to the Revv1 Evo, weighs around 42 kilograms. The Revv1 Evo is expected to weigh around two kilograms less.
3. Lifespan more than twice as long?
In addition to the lower weight, a longer lifespan, faster charging and more stable performance across a much wider temperature range are among the major advantages of the semi-solid-state battery over previous ebike batteries. In terms of the expected lifespan, Ride1Up states, for example, that it would take 1,200 full charge cycles before the battery would noticeably lose capacity. Elektrek suspects that ‘noticeably’ likely refers to a drop below the 80 per cent mark of the original capacity. Anyone who fully charges such an ebike battery three or four times a week would be able to use more than 80 per cent of its capacity for eight or ten years respectively. In comparison: As standard, the warranty on an ebike battery these days usually covers 500 charge cycles. Even after that, it generally retains only around 80 per cent of its original capacity.
4. Semi-solid-state ebike battery fully charged in two hours
Amidst all the excitement about a potential 1,040 watt-hours and the range that comes with it, some of you might be doing a quick mental calculation right now to work out how long it might take to charge such a battery. Well, we can save you the maths. It’s supposed to take exactly two hours. Exactly. One battery. 1,040 watt-hours. Two hours. Yes, the charger plays its part with a charging current of nine amps. Nevertheless, the time taken remains surprisingly short. The more decisive reason lies in the performance of the cells. They can handle such a pace without any side effects. Ride1Up expects the battery to cope with the stresses of charging without any loss of performance.
Until now, the use of fast chargers has always come with a certain ‘but’. The heat generated during the charging process places massive stress on an ebike battery. It damages the chemistry of the cells and can significantly reduce the expected service life. Gan technology has provided an initial solution here; for example, used by Avinox and announced by Bosch for the end of the year. However, even this falls short of the results achieved with semi-solid-state cells.
5. Significantly more temperature-resistant than conventional lithium-ion batteries
Temperature isn’t just a factor during charging. As an environmental factor, it has a significant impact on the performance of an ebike battery. This is particularly true once the temperature drops below freezing. You may have noticed yourself that at zero degrees Celsius and below, standard lithium-ion batteries lose 40 per cent or more of their capacity. The result is a reduced range. And more hassle when using the battery. After all, you may need to store it in a warmer place and charge it more often than usual.
Semi-solid-state batteries are also sensitive to temperature, though to a lesser extent. Ride1Up promises around 70 per cent of the actual capacity even at temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius. Should this prove true in practice, it would be a huge step forward. The gel-like electrolyte inside the semi-solid-state cells is primarily responsible for the increased resilience. In this electrolyte, the flow of current slows down less noticeably than in the liquid electrolyte of conventional lithium-ion cells. This battery is also said to be better able to withstand heat.
6. New Ride1Up Revv1 Evo: unmistakably a fun machine
Within the Ride1Up range, Revv1 occupies a somewhat special position as a brand in its own right. On its website, the manufacturer describes the target audience as people “who live louder and ride harder”. All Revv1 models are clearly considered to be inspired by motorbikes. Full throttle and fun go hand in hand here. The ebikes aim to “blur the line between utility and adrenaline”.
This description applies perfectly to the Revv1 Evo. Elements of 1970s motocross bikes meet the look of a beach cruiser. It features not only pedals but also a full suspension system. The massive upside-down suspension fork offers 160 millimetres of travel. The redesigned multi-link rear triangle provides 90 millimetres of travel. As is typical for an ebike of this kind, a rear hub motor powers the bike. It is manufactured by Bafang and generates a considerable torque of 100 Newton-metres. However, due to its continuous power output of 750 watts, it is already clear that this version of the Ride1Up Revv1 Evo will not be coming to Europe. The motor simply does not meet local regulations.
7. Ride with a throttle or as a pure pedelec
The bike is to be delivered as a Class 2 ebike. This means the motor provides assistance up to a speed of 32 kilometres per hour, with the option to use a throttle. Alternatively, you can switch to pure pedal assistance mode without a throttle. In this case, the Revv1 Evo is in Class 3 mode and only switches off the motor assistance at 45 kilometres per hour. Despite its considerable weight of around 40 kilograms, Ride1Up expects ranges of 30 miles and 60 miles. This corresponds to a distance of around 50 kilometres to just under 100 kilometres.
Despite the powerful motor and the fact that we’re talking about a full-suspension bike, many are likely to think of a leisurely ride on the Revv1 Evo. The 20-inch wheels and strikingly wide four-inch tyres are far better suited to this than to a speed chase on singletrack. Especially if you’re planning to ride with two people on the seat, which is comfortably possible given the length of the bench. The aluminium frame certainly provides the necessary stability. However, you shouldn’t lose sight of the permitted maximum total weight. At just over 180 kilograms, it’s not particularly high.
In the US, the Ride1Up Revv1 Evo is set to hit the market in late summer or early autumn. The announced price is US$2,395. For the world’s first ebike with a semi-solid-state battery, that seems almost like a bargain.
8. Background: What is a semi-solid-state battery?
Put very simply, a semi-solid-state battery could be described as an intermediate stage between a conventional lithium-ion battery and a solid-state battery. All three batteries can use lithium ions to conduct electricity, which move back and forth between a cathode and an anode – depending on whether we are looking at charging or discharging.
The key difference lies in the medium in which the ions do this. In a conventional lithium-ion-based ebike battery, this is a liquid electrolyte. In a solid-state battery, it is a solid substance. And a semi-solid-state battery consequently uses a semi-solid electrolyte, a mixture of a solid polymer matrix that encloses a liquid component. Experts refer to this as a gel-polymer electrolyte, or GPE for short, which clearly possesses gel-like properties. It is mechanically more stable than a liquid electrolyte, yet just as conductive.
Typically, semi-solid-state cells outperform the lithium-ion cells found in conventional ebike batteries in terms of energy density, charging speed and safety. Their altered chemical composition is also reflected in a different design. Semi-solid-state batteries consist of flat, rectangular cells, which are often packed into pouches and resemble a flat, not-too-large smartphone. Or a bar of chocolate. Take your pick. 😉 Inside the cells, thin layers are stacked flat on top of one another. In technical jargon, this is known as the pouch format. According to Ride1Up, the Revv1 Evo’s battery has undergone various puncture, crush, heat and short-circuit tests to reliably verify its safety.
However, a semi-solid-state battery cannot be equated with a solid-state-battery. Its properties differ significantly from the technology now being used in ebikes for the first time.
Pictures: Ride1Up, Inc.; Universal Transmissions GmbH; Beijing Welion New Energy Technology Co., LTD